😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $640 in Az-zabadani, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,020 in Az-zabadani, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,399 in Az-zabadani, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 162% more than Az-zabadani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Az-zabadani is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$9.97SYP 1,211
-19.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$45.78SYP 5,562
4.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$6.88SYP 836
43.75%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$3.80SYP 462
-17.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$2.26SYP 275
-15.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$0.85SYP 104
77.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$1.88SYP 229
65.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$3.09SYP 375
86.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.06SYP 128
35.85%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$0.39SYP 47.16
538.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$1.58SYP 192
12.03%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$1.61SYP 195
83.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$3.82SYP 464
163.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$5.53SYP 672
83.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$13.88SYP 1,687
3.03%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$1.07SYP 130
286.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.41SYP 171
14.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.11SYP 135
102.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$1.02SYP 124
120.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$0.76SYP 92.3
168.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$0.81SYP 98.0
90.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$0.44SYP 53.1
165.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.66SYP 80.5
98.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$2.85SYP 346
36.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$5.80SYP 705
141.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$1.11SYP 134
56.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$2.86SYP 348
0.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$1.02SYP 124
28.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$1.54SYP 187
42.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$7.51SYP 913
15.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$3.64SYP 442
-62.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$15.2KSYP 1.8M
83.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$18.8KSYP 2.3M
90.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$138SYP 16.8K
28.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$9.83SYP 1,194
41.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$46.37SYP 5,634
-35.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$5.43SYP 660
22.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$65.7SYP 7,987
1136.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$1,785SYP 216.9K
414.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$28.74SYP 3,492
211.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$40.32SYP 4,899
46.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$61.1SYP 7,424
126.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$59.2SYP 7,187
72.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
14.25
-23.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Az-zabadani: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $46.00 in Az-zabadani. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $168 – making Az-zabadani the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Medellin vs Az-zabadani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Az-zabadani?
Medellin costs about 162% more than Az-zabadani, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Az-zabadani?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $961 in Az-zabadani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Az-zabadani?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $46.00 in Az-zabadani. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Az-zabadani?
Groceries cost about 82% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Az-zabadani?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Az-zabadani, where all-in costs run around $640, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Az-zabadani it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Az-zabadani?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Az-zabadani costs $640 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or to Az-zabadani?
If budget matters most, go with Az-zabadani. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.